Fog Lamps On With Headlights Closed?

[jacob9582]

My C4 is a 1984

I am curious how I can make this happen, and if this is an easy job. I am not the best with electrical work. Thanks in advance.

 

[86-ZZ3]

Don't know about the '84 but early '86 (late '85 build) C4s could turn fog light on/off with just the parking lights on.

 

[geekinavette]

'84 is the same...fog lights will turn on with just parking lights on.

If you want to be able to turn fog lights on independently of parking lights, this is how to do it:

For reference here is the diagram of the fog light circuit:

This is a diagram of how to modify it so the fog lamps can be turned on without parking lights on:

The relay is a part you will need to add. They are inexpensive and are available at just about any parts store. Make SURE when you splice into the red and yellow wires to use the same wire gauge that is already in the car! These bulbs use a significant amount of current...don't use smaller wire!

 

[BADRACR]

On both my 84's the fog lamps only turn on if the low beam lights are on. I think the 85 is the year they changed it. I am going to modify the white car so that they will operate with park lamps on.

 

[geekinavette]

Mine would turn on with just the park lights on.

 

[douglas foster]

father & son

my late 84 has a switch next lite switch for fog lamps

 

[CorvetteArchives]

GeekinVette...the guy said he isnt good with electrical....your diagrams even scared me

Yes, 84 fog lights will only turn on with the headlight buckets up...dumb looking isnt it?
EASILY Wire them to turn on with your parking lights and headlights down ...still switchable too

If its gloomy or foggy you SHOULD have your parking lights ON anyway.

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS...cut the yellow wire at the headlight switch that goes to the fog light switch. Strip end and push it into headlight switch at the black wire!! DONE!



Did this 15 years ago and works great!
More detailed explanation.
http://corvette1984.freewebtools.com/DIRECTORIES/UPGRADES/DrivingFogLights/FL.html

 

[geekinavette]

Oh heck those are simple! :L

Electrical is not something to tinker around with if you don't know what you're doing. Cars have burned to the ground for that very reason.

 

[jacob9582]

Thanks a lot, I will try this...If I can ever get the hood open now!!! See my other post!

GeekinVette...the guy said he isnt good with electrical....your diagrams even scared me

Yes, 84 fog lights will only turn on with the headlight buckets up...dumb looking isnt it?
EASILY Wire them to turn on with your parking lights and headlights down ...still switchable too

If its gloomy or foggy you SHOULD have your parking lights ON anyway.

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS...cut the yellow wire at the headlight switch that goes to the fog light switch. Strip end and push it into headlight switch at the black wire!! DONE!



Did this 15 years ago and works great!
More detailed explanation.
http://corvette1984.freewebtools.com/DIRECTORIES/UPGRADES/DrivingFogLights/FL.html

 

[geekinavette]

Allow me to quote a couple of "snippets" from that link:

If you wish to wire the lights as daylime running lights, you can just tap/splice into an accessory wire that is "hot in run"

And if that "accessory wire" is not capable of handling the current requirements of the fog lamps....*POOF" fried circuit and potential car fire.

So pop out the 10-amp fuse, and put a 15-amp fuse in its place

I can not even believe anyone would suggest this. DO NOT EVER replace a fuse with a higher rating....EVER. Period! No discussion, no debating, no excuses...JUST DON'T DO IT!



C'mon guys...there's a right way and a wrong way. Is the risk of burning your beloved C4 to the ground worth it?

 

[Schrade]

Allow me to quote a couple of "snippets" from that link:



And if that "accessory wire" is not capable of handling the current requirements of the fog lamps....*POOF" fried circuit and potential car fire.




I can not even believe anyone would suggest this. DO NOT EVER replace a fuse with a higher rating....EVER. Period! No discussion, no debating, no excuses...JUST DON'T DO IT!



C'mon guys...there's a right way and a wrong way. Is the risk of burning your beloved C4 to the ground worth it?

Under normal circumstances I would agree. I read instances where guys blew a fuse after some task, then blew another, then went higher amp, and problem solved. hnoes

But in this case, you tap a primary feed (instead of accessory feed), and you wouldn't have to add a fuse on the same line, but you would add one on the tap. I think anyone who does NOT have thumb-holes in his shoes (see below, junior's grip on momma's foot-thumb) could get this right, without a problem uh huh.

 

[geekinavette]

Under normal circumstances I would agree. I read instances where guys blew a fuse after some task, then blew another, then went higher amp, and problem solved. hnoes

"solved" isn't quite the word I would use there....more like lucky.

I only persist on this issue because as an uneducated teenager I almost roasted my beloved first car (AMC Javelin) doing something very similar. I would VERY much hate to see something bad happen to any of our members!

Bill

 

[CorvetteArchives]

Allow me to quote a couple of "snippets" from that link:



And if that "accessory wire" is not capable of handling the current requirements of the fog lamps....*POOF" fried circuit and potential car fire.




I can not even believe anyone would suggest this. DO NOT EVER replace a fuse with a higher rating....EVER. Period! No discussion, no debating, no excuses...JUST DON'T DO IT!



C'mon guys...there's a right way and a wrong way. Is the risk of burning your beloved C4 to the ground worth it?

Well DUH...its fairly obvious that you need to have half a brain and wire into an appropriate "hot in run" circuit!

There is also posted the logic and engineering behind how you safely CAN replace the smaller rated fuse if you so choose since its such a slight increase in draw. We're not talking replacing fuses multiple times to fix an existing problem out of ignorence like some teenager. The draw with the higher rated bulbs is still well below the actual designed temp of the circuit/wire.
Its worked on mine and several other cars since we debated it on another forum with mechanics and electrical engineers over 10 years ago with no problems and will continue to do so. The explanation posted is a condensed version of a more technical discussion that I tried to "dumb down". That discussion convinced me it was indeed safe and it has proven to be so. Dont understand or scared? dont do it! Simple!